ERIK TEN HAG ACCUSES MANCHESTER UNITED OF BREAKING PROMISES

Erik ten Hag has accused Manchester United’s leadership of breaking promises made when the club extended his contract in 2024. In an interview, he said he had asked for another year on his deal before agreeing to stay. Ten Hag said Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Ineos team promised loyalty, backing and regular communication. “But the promises, they didn’t keep,” he said. Manchester United dismissed Ten Hag in October 2024, months after he won the FA Cup.

Ten Hag said he had agreed with club officials in Ibiza that they would keep Scott McTominay. Manchester United later sold the Scotland midfielder to Napoli for £25 million. Ten Hag said the sale left him “embarrassed” because he believed McTominay could help address the team’s lack of goals. “Scott brings scoring abilities and great mentality,” he said. McTominay had come through Manchester United’s academy.

Ten Hag also said he tried to bring Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona to Manchester United and arranged meetings with him. He said he took no part in the financial negotiations, and the transfer did not happen. Ten Hag said he wanted experienced players to guide younger recruits, whom he described as “not the finished product”. Transfermarkt estimates that Manchester United spent £563.4 million on signings during his tenure. De Jong remains at Barcelona, where he has made 297 appearances since joining from Ajax in 2019.